Munde detained at Mumbai airport

BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde was on Monday detained at the Mumbai airport by state police when he was on his way to violence-hit Sangli district to address a meeting there.

Officials said he was detained as his address could aggravate the tense situation in the district.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Brijesh Singh said Munde has been prevented from going to Miraj in wake of the communal clashes there and his boarding pass has been seized.

Munde was to address a meeting in connection with a recent riot at Miraj in the district, BJP sources said.

The trouble had started on Anant Chaturdashi day - September 3 - when some pro-Hindutva organisations tried to raise an arch on the Ganesh idol immersion procession route, depicting murder of Mughal warrior Afzulkhan by King Shivaji as recorded in the Maratha history.

This led to a clash between two groups and violence that had repercussions in Sangli city also.

Communal clashes: Curfew continues in Sangli
Meanwhile, the situation at Miraj in neighbouring Sangli district continued to be tense but under control even as the Ganesh immersion disrupted due to communal violence, recommenced Sunday night under police protection.

The Miraj township and Sangli city continued to be under curfew imposed on Saturday night, official sources said on Monday.

In Miraj, 70 per cent of Sarvajanik Ganesh idols had been immersed till this morning after authorities held discussions with various social organisations in order to establish peace.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil who visited the trouble spots, told reporters that 23 persons had been arrested in connection with the violent incidents over the last four days.

The State Director General of police SS Virk was personally supervising the situation. The authorities today announced relaxation of curfew in Miraj for half an hour in the morning. The curfew will remain in force in Miraj till afternoon tomorrow, they added.